The days passed quickly, and without realizing it, Vio's bond with Sheren grew stronger. Every lunch break, they would always make time to sit together, sharing stories about life, dreams, and the little things they encountered in their daily lives.
However, behind it all, something was starting to trouble Vio's heart. He could no longer ignore the growing feelings inside him. Every time he saw Sheren smile, his heart beat faster. Every time he heard her voice, he felt a warmth he couldn't explain. But was this love? Vio didn’t know. He just knew that he always wanted to be near Sheren.
That night, Vio lay on his bed, staring at the dorm room ceiling with a restless heart. Arnold, who was engrossed in playing a game on his laptop, glanced at Vio and let out a long sigh.
"You're thinking about Sheren, aren’t you?" Arnold asked without looking away from the screen.
Vio flinched, then scoffed. "You love making assumptions, Nol."
Arnold chuckled. "It's not an assumption if I'm sure. Just admit it, you like her."
Vio let out a deep sigh and covered his face with his hands. "I... I don’t know. This is a new feeling for me."
"Well, if you don't know, ask yourself. What do you feel when you're around Sheren?" Arnold closed his laptop and looked at Vio seriously.
Vio was silent. He knew the answer, but he was too afraid to admit it.
The next day, the campus was livelier than usual. It was the annual campus festival, and students from various departments gathered to celebrate. Food stalls lined up neatly, traditional and modern games were available in different corners, and an art performance stage in the middle of the field drew many spectators.
Sheren, as usual, was busy with her community, managing the technology booth. Vio watched from a distance, observing how she spoke enthusiastically to visitors. She wore a dark blue community jacket with the faculty logo on her left chest, her hair tied neatly, revealing her graceful face.
Unconsciously, a smile appeared on his face. He realized that no matter how long he tried to ignore it, his feelings for Sheren only grew stronger.
However, he couldn’t rush things. He still didn’t fully understand what he was feeling, and he didn’t want to ruin the good relationship they already had.
"If you keep waiting, you'll regret it, Vi." Fariz suddenly appeared beside him, making Vio jump slightly.
"What the heck, Riz?"
Fariz patted his shoulder. "I'm not saying you should confess right away, but you have to be honest with yourself. If you like her, show it, but take it slow."
Fariz’s words echoed in Vio’s mind all day. And finally, as the sun began to set, he decided to take a small step.
He searched for Sheren, who was now sitting alone in the campus garden, enjoying the festival's final moments. The garden lamps illuminated her peaceful face. She was focused on her phone, occasionally smiling softly.
"Sheren," Vio called gently.
Sheren looked up and smiled. "Oh, Vio. Come sit. Tired after wandering around the festival all day?"
Vio nodded and sat beside her. There was a brief silence between them before Vio took a deep breath.
"Sheren, I... I want to get to know you better," Vio said carefully.
Sheren looked at him curiously. "What do you mean?"
Vio gave a small smile. "I always feel comfortable talking to you. I don’t know why, but I always enjoy our conversations."
Sheren smiled warmly. "I feel the same way, Vio. You're fun to talk to."
Hearing that, Vio's heart warmed. He knew this wasn’t a confession of love, but it was a first step. He wanted to build a deeper connection, slowly understanding his feelings and ensuring they weren’t just fleeting admiration.
"Oh, by the way, at my community booth earlier, I found this. I thought you might like it." Sheren took out a small robot-shaped keychain and handed it to Vio.
Vio took it, surprised. "For me? Why?"
Sheren shrugged. "I just remembered you like technology too, so I grabbed one for you."
Vio smiled widely. "Thanks, Sheren. I'll take good care of it."
That night, even though he hadn’t said everything, Vio felt more at ease. He had started something. And now, he just needed to enjoy the journey ahead.
In his dorm room, Vio was still holding the keychain from Sheren. He kept staring at it, as if the small object held great meaning.
"You're smiling to yourself, Vi. It's official—you've fallen in love," Arnold teased while lying on his bed.
Vio scoffed. "Maybe you're right, Nol. But I don’t want to rush. I just want to enjoy everything first."
Arnold nodded in understanding. "Take it easy, Vi. Just don’t let the chance slip away. If you think she's special, show her that she is."
Vio nodded. He felt more confident now. From now on, he would be braver in getting closer to Sheren—little by little. Without rushing, but also without hesitation.
That night, for the first time in a long while, Vio slept peacefully. He had taken a small step, and for now, that was enough.
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